Clint Eastwood’s worn and signed helmet from Kelly’s Heroes (1970) is Lot 203 in Hanlin’s Movie and TV Memorabilia Auction on November 6 and 7, 2026. It comes from my collection with my letter of authenticity and a signed copy of my book, Clint Eastwood: ICON. A prop machine gun from the same film follows as Lot 204.

Why This Helmet Matters

Kelly’s Heroes sits in a sweet spot of Eastwood’s career. He had come off the Sergio Leone Westerns and Where Eagles Dare, and Dirty Harry was just ahead. As Private Kelly, he leads a group of GIs who go AWOL to rob a German bank of its gold, with Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, Carroll O’Connor and Donald Sutherland’s Oddball along for the ride. The film became a cult favorite, and Kelly is one of Eastwood’s most likable characters.

The helmet is the piece of costume that defines a soldier on screen. This one was worn by Eastwood as Kelly, and he signed it. Pieces that combine wear by Eastwood himself with his signature are rare, and in more than four decades of collecting Eastwood material, I have seen how rarely they reach the open market.

Provenance

I have collected and documented Eastwood’s career since I was a teenager, and that work became Clint Eastwood: ICON, The Essential Film Art Collection (Insight Editions, 2009) and its Revised and Expanded Edition (2018). Hanlin’s catalog describes me as a “Clint Eastwood expert and longtime friend.” The helmet comes with my letter of authenticity, plus a signed copy of my Eastwood book.

The Companion Lot: Kelly’s Heroes Prop Machine Gun

Lot 204 is an original metal prop machine gun from the production of Kelly’s Heroes. It also comes with a signed copy of my Eastwood book. Together, the two lots make a complete Kelly’s Heroes display.

At a Glance

• Lot 203: Clint Eastwood (Kelly) worn and signed helmet, Kelly’s Heroes (1970). Estimate $1,000 to $2,000.
• Lot 204: Kelly’s Heroes (1970) prop machine gun, metal. Estimate $1,000 to $2,000.
• Includes: Letter of authenticity from David Frangioni (Lot 203) and a signed copy of my Eastwood book (both lots).
• Auction: Hanlin’s Movie and TV Memorabilia Auction, November 6 and 7, 2026.

More Eastwood from my collection in the same sale: the Firefox arctic diorama and MiG-31 model and Walt Kowalski’s Colt M1911 from Gran Torino.

How to Bid

Bid directly on Lot 203, Lot 204 in Hanlin’s Movie and TV Memorabilia Auction. The sale runs in two sessions, starting at 12:00 p.m. Central on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, 2026. Register with Hanlin on iCollector and get approved before the sale. Hanlin Auction Service is in Quincy, Illinois, and can be reached at 217-223-0063.

You can see all 20 lots from my collection in this sale, with the story behind each one, on my Collector page.